Bomb triggered inside fortified PWD office
Three staff including a lady SO hurt
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, December 14 2011: At least, three employees including a lady Section Officer (SO) of the Public Works Department sustained injuries when suspected members of the proscribed PLA triggered a powerful bomb inside the fortified office building of the department located at Khuyathong at around 1.30 pm today.

Significantly, entry of any visitors inside the office building of PWD is not possible without being frisked by security guards, who are deployed there round the clock.

The injured SO has been identified as Haorungbam Nirmala (27) d/o Haorungbam Ibomcha of Sagolband Sayang Pukhri Mapal.

She is in charge of National Highway Division-IV of the department.

Both her legs have been hit by numerous bomb splinters.

The other injured employee has been identified as Seram Yaima (41) s/o late S Maipak of Khongman Atom Leirak.

He is a casual clerk in Highway Division (South).

He was hit by bomb splinters on his face and behind the ears.

Both of them are currently undergoing treatment at RIMS Hospital.

According to hospital sources, the condition of Seram Yaima is critical and he is yet to regain consciousness till late night.

At RIMS hospital, Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Md Alauddin Khan and Chief Engineer of PWD Lokendro visited the injured.

Talking to mediapersons, Minister Alauddin strongly condemned the bomb blast as an act of terrorism.

The third injured victim has been identified as Abdul Manal (41) s/o Md Abdul Ali of Lilong Leihaokhong.

He receives minor injuries and hence, he has been discharged from RIMS Hospital after administering first aid.

The explosion went off exactly at 1.30 pm near the staircase of the corridor connecting the Account Section of PWD and Section-II of Manipur State Rural Road Development in second floor of the building.

The impact of the explosion was so great that four rooms have been damaged and the tin-roof of the entire floor had been blown away.

Around 5 minutes before the bomb went off; Chief Engineer of PWD Lokendro was reportedly seen coming out from the office complex by mediapersons.

On hearing about a bomb being planted inside the office building of PWD from different sources, mediapersons as well as a police team led by SDPO of Imphal West District Modhunimai already rushed in ahead of the explosion.

Police instructed all the employees of the PWD to remain within the office complex.

However, the mediapersons were not allowed by the CRPF personnel to enter the gate of the office.

Soon after the explosion, a reinforcement of Police commandos and a battery of top police officers rushed in.

Close on their heels, Works Minister K Ranjit, DGP Y Joykumar, Additional DGP V Zathang, Senior SP of Imphal West District L Kailun, CRPF and Assam Rifles also arrived at the spot.

A team of police immediately evacuated the injured victims to the hospital.

Another employee, LDC Brojen, who fainted on hearing the explosion, was also taken to Raj Polyclinic for necessary medical attention.

In connection with the explosion, a police officer has informed that it was a time-bomb.

The bomb had been set exactly at 1.30 pm.

But what type of explosive materials had been used is yet to be ascertained.

To detect any more possible bombs, sniffer dogs were used and police conducted a search operation inside the office complex.

After the search operation, 54 people have been picked up and taken to City Police Station for further verification.

There is no report of release of any of them till the time of filing this report.

As no mediapersons have been allowed entry, the exact extend of the damage caused in the bomb explosion could not be ascertained.

It may be noted here that personnel of Central Para-military forces are being deployed for the security of PWD office complex and no one is allowed entry through the gate without being frisked.

Currently, personnel of B-Company, 69 Bn CRPF are on duty and they are being assisted by five personnel of CID Special Branch and five Home Guards.

In addition to physical frisking, carrying of mobile phones, bags, cameras, match boxes, etc, are also prohibited inside the office complex.

Apart from restricting entry of anyone before and after office hours, parking of private vehicles inside is not allowed.

In the given circumstances, who and how the bomb was taken inside the office building remains a baffling question.

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